SWDFEF Newsletter February 2019 Co-Founders: Nick Saunders (Exeter City DSA) & David Munn (Yeovil Town DSA) sharing experiences to improve disabled SWDFEF, Coral Gables, 18 Lincoln Close, Feniton, Devon, EX14 3EQ access and services for disabled fans Tel: 01404 850962 Email: [email protected] Editor: David Munn (Yeovil Town DSA) Mobile: 07891 986053 South West Disabled Fans’ Experience Forum You do not really understand something unless you T.E.A.M. can explain it to your grandmother - Albert Einstein Together Everyone Achieves More Bristol City; Bristol Rovers; Cardiff City; Cheltenham Town; Exeter City; Forest Green Rovers; Newport County; Plymouth Argyle; Swansea City; Swindon Town; Torquay United & Yeovil Town Level Playing Field Yeovil Town DSA On 05 January, at the home game, Yeovil Christmas Meal on 03 December 2018 v Bury FC, we were privileged to receive A fantastic evening was enjoyed by over a visit from Liam Bird, the recently 100 people, which included Darren Way appointed Level Playing Field Fans (Team Manager), Terry Skiverton (Asst Liaison Officer. Liam used this visit as a Team Manager) & Paul Terry (Team familiarization trip where he could coach) plus all the players. update himself with the activities of our own DSA. As well as the normal DSA A grand total of £389 was raised in the activities Liam was briefed about our raffle and auction, which included a ‘Soccer Sight’ set-up, including listening Francois Zoko signed shirt, 2 match day in to the match commentary and was tickets and a bottle of Brandy. also briefed about our SWDFEF activity. Our thanks go to Janet Lawrence, plus Liam said, “The results might not be Liam Bird’s report appears Janet Samways, Alexandra Samways & going Yeovil’s way on the pitch but the later in this newsletter. Eileen Becky for their organising of the Yeovil DSA is flying high”. draw and the magnificent prizes that they Give us your questions also provided. Plus our thanks must go to Clive Robinson & his team for an Plymouth Argyle DSA have suggested that, as an enhancement to our excellent Christmas menu. annual Forums, anyone who has a subject that they would welcome input and comments from other clubs, in between Forums, please email them to me at [email protected] and I will circulate them. Once ALL replies are received (no more than two weeks after I have raised the question), I will send all input and comments to every club. Thanks. Or you can use facebook page : - https://www.facebook.com/groups/DFSAT Yeovil Town DSA Experience is the name that everyone gives to their mistakes - Oscar Wilde Yeovil Town Football Club players and staff visit Lufton College Exeter City DSA Exeter City’s Changing Places facility in the Stagecoach Adam Stansfield Stand was officially opened on the EFL’s Day of Disabilities, Monday 03 December. The new changing places room was part of the £3.5 million redevelopment of St James Park, which was completed in October 2018. The changing places facility has been a collaboration between the club and the Exeter City Disabled Supporters Association. The ECDSA raised £3000 which has paid for the bench, hoist and privacy screen. The funds were raised through their Christmas draw and bucket collections. Nick Saunders, ECDSA chairman said: “We at ECDSA strive to ensure access for all. The Changing Places room is a good chance to make an Team Manager Darren Way took his players and staff to Cambian Lufton improvement that has been missing. It is open to home & away supporters”. College, Yeovil on 18 December 2018 as part of their visits at Christmas time. The college is a specialist further education college for young people “This is a fantastic facility that is the first in Devon at a professional football with a learning disability and complex needs. A great afternoon was club. This has all be made possible by the hard work of the ECDSA enjoyed with some festive cheer and lots of memories to share. committee, it’s members and the fans of Exeter City Football Club.” Liam Bird of Level Playing Field, Yeovil DSA visit report - Part 1 of 3 Liam Bird of Level Playing Field, Yeovil DSA visit report - Part 2 of 3 The rebirth of the little green giants "It’s so important to put a face to a name in a small community like Yeovil. It means a lot to people" - David Munn "We've had letters from Manchester United and Liverpool supporters that said that they have travelled all over Europe and that our assistance when Since its rebirth in 2009, the DSA has gone on to hold regular social events it came to disabled parking and match day experience were one of the "We now have over 100 people attending some events" best they have seen. That's a huge compliment when you’re a small club in Somerset" - David Munn (DSA member and Audio Descriptive They offer guaranteed disability parking spaces and assistance from car Commentator) to seat, half time tea's and coffees, assistance blankets for supporters who are feeling the chill of Huish Park and Audio Descriptive Commentary It may have taken the club 108 years to enter the Football League (Having for its blind and visually impaired supporters, just to name a few. formed in 1895 and promoted to the Football League in 2003 then going on to reach the heights of The Championship in 2013) the only league club It's not only the home fans that are treated like Yeovil family. The Away in Somerset are now fighting to continue their stay in the Football League, supporters are also high on the DSA’s list. but away from their battle on the pitch the Yeovil DSA are making "It starts before they come to the ground" mammoth strides in its quest to provide a match day experience that will rival its Premiership counterparts, even if the football on the pitch is not The DSA send out an away supporter’s pack, a week or two in advance, reaching that standard. with helpful game day information But this story of triumph and revere could have been very different! "In the pack is information on local transport, stadium facilities, letting them know that there are guaranteed parking spaces available for them Yeovil Town DSA formed in 1999 but the committee became '"dormant" and that we can post out a parking badge before they arrive. All this in 2004 but there was one person in the background with drive and information is so important for supporters who might feel nervous about determination who waved the flag for disabled supporters at Yeovil attending an away game. We want fans who come to Huish Park to feel Football Club. relaxed and enjoy a game of football and maybe come back again next "Being disabled myself I know how difficult it can be to attend games, So season with a friend who had the same anxiety as them, because they I did what I could to make sure there was still a voice at the club for know that they will be looked after!" - Mike Rowsell (DSA member and disabled Yeovil Town Supporters once the DSA went dormant" - Sharon fundraiser) Swain Away from match days, Mike has taken it upon himself to go out to the Sharon is now the Chair of the Yeovil Town DSA after it was reformed in public and educate the people of Yeovil about the work that DSAs do and the summer of 2009 and a new committee was elected. what can be offered at the club. " My main reason for staying on after the DSA went dormant was to make "I went and spoke at one school and one of the teachers was so impressed sure that disabled parking was being guaranteed for my fellow disabled because she wasn’t aware that there was something like the DSA out supporters. Knowing that you had a guaranteed space could be the there. We as a DSA have to be out in the community and letting people difference between attending the game or not" know who we are and what we can offer for the good of the Club and DSA". Sharon oversaw disability parking was safeguarded and even went as far With a population of just under 45,000 Yeovil has one of the smallest as painting the parking numbers and lines herself. populations for a league club in England. Compared to its near-ish It wasn’t only the parking that Sharon oversaw. Before the reformation of neighbours Exeter with 129,000 and Bristol with 459,000. the DSA Sharon would write up to 80 personal letters to all the disabled "Although we are not a very big town, I think sometimes that can play to fans that the club knew of every season with club information and hand our advantage. Being a bigger club in a large town or city, you can lose deliver them through people's letterboxes. that community sense of who your members are and lose that personal touch" – Mike Rowsell Liam Bird of Level Playing Field, Yeovil DSA visit report - Part 3 of 3 Yeovil Town DSA It's these personal touches that have made this "small" club in Somerset awake from hibernation back in 2009 and become a giant within their footballing community. "It's not about offering the greatest facility it's about offering all that you can and delivering that to the best of the club’s and DSA’s ability. If you can make a fellow disabled supporter feel respected, valued, and made to feel like they matter for that hour and a half, I think that’s priceless." - Sharon Swain If you are interested in joining the Yeovil DSA or would like more information on Yeovil DSA then click the link.